Not only can the FRITZ!Box establish Internet connections using a mobile broadband dongle, it can also use the existing mobile Internet connection of an Android smartphone (USB tethering).

This way all devices in the FRITZ!Box home network can use the Android smartphone's Internet connection to access the Internet should your conventional Internet connection ever be down and you do not have a mobile broadband dongle.

Requirements / Restrictions

Android 4.1 or later is installed on the smartphone.

The Android smartphone must support the USB tethering function.

Note:Not all smartphones support USB tethering. Refer to the manufacturer of the smartphone for information on USB tethering, for example consult the manual.

Depending on the mobile network operator, Internet telephony and all other functions for which a public IP address is required (for example incoming VPN connections) are either available or available only to a limited extent.

Note:The configuration procedure and notes on functions given in this guide refer to the latest FRITZ!OS for your FRITZ!Box.

1 Connecting a smartphone with the FRITZ!Box

Use a USB cable to connect the Android smartphone to a USB port on your FRITZ!Box.

2 Configuring the smartphone

Tap the "Settings" icon on the home screen of the Android smartphone.

Tap "Wireless and networks" and then "Tethering & portable hotspot".

Enable the option "USB tethering".

The Android smartphone will now share the Internet connection with the device you connected using the USB cable.

Note:If you no longer want to share the Internet connection, you can either disable the option "USB tethering" or remove the USB cable again.

3 Configuring the FRITZ!Box

If the mobile network should always be used for the Internet connection, enable the option "Internet connection via smartphone or mobile communications dongle by USB tethering enabled".

If the mobile network should only be used for the Internet connection when DSL synchronization is interrupted, enable the option "Internet connection via smartphone or mobile communications stick by USB tethering automatically whenever the DSL connection is interrupted".

Note:Once the DSL connection has been stable and available again for 30 minutes, the FRITZ!Box clears the mobile connection and switches the Internet connection back to DSL.